Time to Tackle Entitlements

It’s going to be an interesting two years. The GOP, at the prodding of Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and the GOP Freshman Class, is apparently serious about attempting to tackle entitlement reform this year. Obama’s sham budget does nothing to address the fiscal mess that we have gotten ourselves into, and the GOP appears ready to fight.

I think Obama is banking on the fact that, while the American people overall want spending cuts, when it comes to specific programs, support for cuts becomes more tepid. His strategy is to demonize the GOP when they propose real reform, and go back to the liberal playbook of demonizing the GOP as “mean-spirited”. The GOP, on the other hand, seems to be latching onto the mantra of a “failure of leadership” when it comes to Obama. It is shaking up to be an epic battle of two polar opposite views of government.

The GOP’s primary challenge will be to get its message out over the bully-pulpit of the Presidency. Spokesmen like Ryan need to make the case to the American people and have it make sense. Going into 2012, we are going to need policy wonks like Ryan as well as people who can speak directly to the American people, and to me, that is beginning to look more and more like Sarah Palin, but that’s a subject for another post. In the meantime, check out Ryan’s response to the President’s budget below.

I read an NRO article this morning which had a top GOP official saying that “we have the 218 votes” to tackle entitlement reform. While that’s great, I don’t think that’s the right long-term attitude. I’d hazard caution: Obama’s luring the Republicans into a very transparent trap — all can see the need for reform but put the GOP in position to be the bad guys so the GOP pays the political price. It’s the same game libs have been paying since 1935 and it’s been very effective for them.

I agree that the philosophical showdown is imminent, but I believe that for the GOP to win that debate, they need at least two things in the long run: some Dems to go along with them and also to keep the debate going using facts, specific data, as well as the “failure of leadership” mantra to keep the pressure going.

Ultimately, it’s a moot point for two more years, but it’s one we need to philosophically win.